VOICE

 LESSON  SYLLABUS:  MUS356  and  MUS456  

Dr.  Emily  J.  Riggs  
Updated  12/  2013  
 
Course  Objectives:    
Private  voice  instruction  at  the  356  and  456  level  is  intended  to  equip  students  with  the  
necessary  skill  set  to  complete  a  successful  senior  project  (in  fulfillment  of  the  
MUS490/WRT075  requirement).    This  preparation  includes  the  fundamentals  of  vocal  
technique  and  vocal  diction,  musical  literacy,  and  experience  with  a  variety  of  material  from  
the  standard  repertoire  (including  exposure  to  works  in  a  variety  of  languages  from  the  
Baroque  period  to  the  present).    Students  will  demonstrate  their  progress  at  the  end  of  each  
semester  in  the  form  of  a  graded  jury.    
 
Required  Texts:  
There  is  no  single  required  text  for  this  course,  however,  as  the  need  arises,  students  may  
asked  to  either  purchase  or  borrow  scores  for  study.    Materials  can  be  purchased  online  
through  websites  including  Sheetmusicplus.com  or  Classical  Vocal  Reprints,  or  borrowed  
from  the  University  Library.    Copies  of  the  24  Italian  Songs  and  Arias  have  been  ordered  
and  are  in  stock  in  the  bookstore  for  those  of  you  who  would  like  to  purchase  your  
own  copy.  
 
What  to  bring  to  your  weekly  lesson:  
• Three  ring  binder  with  2  copies  of  each  assigned  piece  (please  make  sure  
photocopies  are  neatly  prepared  for  the  sake  of  your  pianist).  
• Pencil    
• Practice  Journal  
 
Studio  Requirements:      
Departmental  “Brown  Bag  Recital  Series”:  Each  student  enrolled  in  private  lessons  is  
required  to  perform  in  at  least  2  departmental  Brown  Bags  each  semester.    Please  see  the  
attached  schedule  of  Brown  Bags  for  the  current  semester  and  review  the  necessary  policies  
and  procedures.  
 
Studio  Class:    Voice  Studio  Class  meets  every  Tuesday  from  5:30-­‐6:30.    Attendance  is  
mandatory  and  students  should  be  prepared  to  sing  every  week.  
 
End-­‐of-­‐semester  Jury:    At  the  end  of  the  semester  each  student  is  required  to  perform  a  jury  
for  members  of  the  voice  faculty.    Jury  requirements  are  dependent  on  course  number  and  
total  credits  of  vocal  study  previously  completed.    The  date  for  voice  juries  will  be  
announced  during  the  first  or  second  week  of  classes.  
 
Grading  Policy:    
80%  Preparation  and  Progress  demonstrated  at  weekly  lessons  
20%  Semester  Performances  (Brown  Bag/Jury/etc.)  
 
Failure  to  attend  weekly  studio  classes  will  result  in  a  lowering  of  your  final  grade.    
 
 
 
Accompanist  Policy:  
All  Voice  Performance  Majors  are  required  to  schedule  a  regular  weekly/or  bi-­‐weekly  
rehearsal  with  their  accompanist.    Voice  Performance  majors,  please  read  and  sign  the  
accompanist  contact  and  return  it  to  me  by  your  next  lesson.      
 
All  other  voice  students  are  required  to  meet  at  least  once  with  an  accompanist  outside  of  
their  lesson  or  studio  class  time  prior  to  each  scheduled  performance  (Brown  Bag/Final  
Jury/other  recital).      
 
Attendance:    
Any  lesson  cancelled  by  the  instructor  will  be  made-­‐up  at  a  mutually  agreed  upon  time.    
Lessons  cancelled  by  the  student  for  illness  or  other  reason  will  be  rescheduled  at  the  
discretion  of  the  professor  and  as  availability  permits.    No-­‐shows,  or  lessons  cancelled  less  
than  24  hours  in  advance,  will  not  be  rescheduled.    
 
Special  Accommodations:  
If  you  are  a  student  with  a  disability  and  believe  you  will  need  accommodations  for  this  
class,  it  is  your  responsibility  to  contact  the  Office  of  AccessAbility  Services  at  (860)465-­‐
0189.    
 
Academic  Services:  
Students  are  encouraged  to  use  the  support  offered  by  the  Academic  Services  Center  
located  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Library.    Tutoring,  Math,  Writing,  and  supplemental  
Advising  Services  are  available  for  students  in  the  Center  at  the  following  times:  Sun.  2-­‐9;  
M-­‐Th.  9-­‐9,  Fri.  9-­‐5.  (Closed  Sat.)  For  further  information  call  465-­‐4272  or  check  the  ASC  
website  at  http://www.easternct.edu/asc/.  
 VOICE  PERFORMANCE  MAJORS  
Policies  and  Procedures  
(Updated  Spring  2013)  
 
Brown  Bag  Recitals  
 
Every  student  enrolled  in  private  lessons  is  required  to  perform  on  at  least  2  Brown  Bag  
Recitals  every  semester  they  are  enrolled  in  private  lessons.    Students,  in  consultation  with  
their  primary  voice  instructor,  may  choose  to  sing  1-­‐2  selections.  
 
*NEW  PROCEDURE*  
Prior  to  performing  on  each  Brown  Bag  Recital,  students  will  be  required  to  submit  an  
online  “Repertoire  Submission  Form”.    Every  student  enrolled  in  private  voice  will  be  
emailed  a  link  to  the  “Repertoire  Submission  Form”  at  the  beginning  of  each  semester.    
Please  complete  all  required  fields  and  submit  the  form  no  later  than  the  Monday  before  the  
scheduled  performance.    If  you  miss  this  deadline  you  will  not  be  eligible  to  perform.    A  
reminder  email  will  be  sent  one  week  prior  to  each  performance  date.  
 
Attire  for  Brown  Bag  should  reflect  the  formality  of  the  recital.  (Absolutely  NO  jeans,  flip-­‐
flops  or  sneakers).    Ladies:  Skirts  and  dresses  should  be  at  least  knee  length.    Men:  Dress  
pants  and  a  button  down  shirt  w/  a  tie  would  be  more  than  appropriate.    No  jacket  
necessary.    Please  ask  if  you  have  any  questions  about  appropriate  attire.  
 
Studio  Class  
 
Studio  Class  will  be  held  every  Tuesday  from  5:30-­‐6:30.    All  students  enrolled  in  private  
voice  lesson  are  required  to  attend  and  actively  participate  in  class.    The  format  of  class  will  
vary  from  week  to  week.    Materials  found  in  this  course  packet  will  be  used  to  enhance  the  
studio  class  experience.    Please  bring  this  packet  with  you  to  every  studio  class  meeting.  
 
Students  should  be  prepared  to  sing  in  studio  class  approx.  once  every  other  week.    Copies  
of  your  repertoire  are  due  to  Eric  no  later  than  the  Tuesday  before  you  plan  to  perform.    
Please  make  sure  copies  are  complete,  aligned  correctly,  and  that  no  notes  are  cut  off.  
 
*Submitting  Accompanist  Copies*  
Music  should  be  given  to  your  accompanist  at  least  a  week  in  advance  of  any  studio  class  
performance.    Asking  an  accompanist  to  sight-­‐read  music  for  you  is  unprofessional.  
   
 REPERTOIRE  REQUIRMENTS  FOR  VOICE  JURIES  
 
Voice  Performance  Majors  
 

2  memorized  selections  
MUS356  (semesters  1-­‐2)  
English  and  Italian  

3  memorized  selections  
MUS356  (semesters  3+)   English/Italian/French/German  
Jury  Panel  will  select  2  pieces  to  hear  

4  memorized  selections  (1  opera/oratorio  aria)  

MUS456  
Jury  panel  will  select  2-­‐3  pieces  to  hear  

 
 
Non-­‐Majors,  Non-­‐Performance  Concentration  Majors,  Music  Minors  
 
 

2  memorized  selections  
MUS356  
Any  language  (based  on  student/teacher  goals)  

MUS456   Same  as  Major  

 
Criteria  for  Advancement  to  MUS456  
(Recommended  at  end  of  sophomore  year  or  equivalent  study)  
 
Language/Diction  Requirements  
Demonstrates  proficiency  in  the  4  major  singing  languages  in  both  lessons  and  juries.  
 
Technique  
Solid  progress  toward  establishing  a  consistent  and  balanced  tone  
Healthy/Balanced  Onset  
Understanding  of  proper  breathing  and  posture  for  singing  
Accurate  Intonation  
 
Musicality  
Demonstrates  and  understanding  of  rhythm,  dynamics,  articulation  and  phrasing  
 
Expressiveness/Communication  
Demonstrates  a  developing  ability  to  connect  to  text  and  communicate  meaning  through  
performance.  
 
****Appropriate  dress  for  juries  is  the  same  as  the  required  attire  for  Brown  Bag****